Talks bid to avert holiday rail strike chaos

TALKS AIMED at averting a strike by thousands of Network Rail workers over the coming bank holiday will be held today.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union is planning a 24hour walkout from 5pm next Monday and a 48-hour ban on overtime.

The union is warning that rail services will be at a standstill on the morning after Bank Holiday Monday if the strike goes ahead.

Union members have rejected a four-year deal worth £500 this year and three years of increases matching RPI inflation as well as a no compulsory redundancy commitment to December 2016.

The proposed strike means that football fans from Norwich City and Middlesbrough could clock up 29.4 million miles between them if they have to drive to Wembley for the Championship play-off final next Monday.

It estimated Middlesbrough fans will need to drive 248 miles each way via the A19, A1 and M1, which should take four hours 31 minutes.

Norwich fans have it slightly better with a one-way trip of 119.45 miles via the new improved A11 taking two hours and 45 minutes.

Edmund King, the AA president and a Norwich City fan, said: “The fans of Norwich and Middlesbrough will be delighted that they are going to Wembley but the proposed rail strike may mean it is a long, slow trip home.

“Parking will also be in scarce supply so fans are urged to sign up to take official coaches to Wembley and back.

“The roads will also be busy as returning football fans will be hitting the road as bank holiday daytrippers make their way home.

“It has been a long, hard journey for the teams to get to Wembley and now it seems it may be a long, hard slog for the fans to get home.”